Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-12
~, WOMAN AND HOME.
coRNSTALkS FOR INTERIOR DECO
RATIONS.
Pug Dogs VS.. Little Children-Economy
and Self Denial-I-ife In the Country.
HintS-Pnrayraphs-No

and Self DcniaI-Lifc in the Country.
Happiness without wealth-Hygienic
Hints-Paragrsphs-N
In log cabin farm houses, and even in still
humber homes, it is possible to introduce
aesthetic effects by a free use of cornstalks
for interior decorations. No one can have
failei TO notice the rich golden color and
satin sheen of corustalks III the late autumn
season. Their lightness of weight fits them
admirably for the purpose We have Just indi-
Gated. while in the mere matter of exterior
finish they are scarcely inferior TO bamboo
cane.
Let us Illustrate by taking the simplest log
cabin, with unpiastered walls and bare raft
ers, upon which the floor Of the second story
perhaps mere loft-rests, thus answering
the double purpose Of flooring and ceiling.
In order to conceal the unsightly chinking Of
mud or plaster which fills the interstices be
tween the logs, dado is the first device, or
rather wainscoting
The stalks are selected Of uniform thick
ness, and are then cut into such lengths as
NAV be desired for the height of the wains-
coting The cutting must he done with great
accuracy. it Is best to cut each stalk by lay
ing it against pine stick selected as gauge
Another set of stalks is now To be cut, and
these form the ceiling decoration. The width
between the rafters furnishes the model for
the length Of these stalks, for we are now
speaking of the most primitive form of log
cabin-one which has not even a plastertd
ceiling
II paper is not too expensive for the upper
wall surface, the cheapest quality OF muslin
can first bc tackled around the four sides Of
the room above the intended wainscoting, and
a low pTicei wall paper of desirable tint ap-
piled: or coarse muslin OF some pretty shade
NAV furnish the covering without the ad-
dilion of paper. The cheapest quality of
crimson cheese cloth makes a handsome hack
ground in contrast with the yellow corn
stalks.
For the wainscoting these are applied
simply by means of long brads driven through
the stalks Immediately into the logs around
the four walls. The upper ledge will Of course
be perfectly smooth and even if the sticks
have been carefully cut As n finish for the
ton. cornStalks are TO I've laid along this ledge
transveisely, and also secured by long brads.
This finishes the wainscoting, unless one
wishes to add to the security of the part next
the floor by q thin strip OF pine wood
Since il costs nothing except a few hours
labor one NAV well try the experiment, II
only for the sake Of the beautiful aesthetic ef
feet Ii preferred, a narrow shelf may run
around the room at the head Of the walns-
coting, particularly if if be sufficiently high
not to interfere with the furniture. On such
a shelf bits Of brio a a-brac may be arranged to
great advantage The polished surface OF
the stalks easily prevents the accumulation OF
dust
The sticks for the ceiling are laid between
the rarters, and secured to the pianks by
brads making a solid surface, and repeating
the effect of the wainscoting, except for the
division formed by the rafters-
A hostess who deplored the poverty of
primitive country home in a chinkei log
house, which it was impossible to keep tidy,
with the dust perpetually sitting from the
walls. was glad to avail herself OF this means
of identifying her home, which n guest with
ready ingenuity had suggested. The pan
eled ceiling was also a great boon, since 1t
deadened the sound IN the story above the
living room. The ease with which these corn
stalks can be manipulated makes them de
sirable for simple summer cottages at water
Inc places But we have not vet exhausted
their decorative utility.
inches-they make a beautiful covering for
the OUTSIDE of jariinieres or window boxes
for plants On festive occasions, when a
mautel decoration is desirable, have a slight
wooden or stout pasteboard box made 10 tit
the shelf, or place several boxes in a row on
the shelf. and secure an upright row Of stalks
to their outer surface leaving them either Of
uniform height, or sloping them gently from
the middle TO each end of the mantel. Fill
the boxes with sand slightly muistened, and
arrange flowers to suit the taste. Such an
improvised mantel jardiniere filled with
masses OF one kind Of flowers is unique IN Its
beauty.
Where there are sufficiently broad window
sills pasteboard box may lie selected Of such
a size as Will easily fiji the space. Cover both
sides-front and hack-with short stalks, fill
with moist sand, and they will serve as re-
ceptacles for any sort of flowers, repeating
the effect OF the mantelpiece. IL there are
low bookcases in the room, utilize the same
suggestion in their decoration, in this case
choosing narrow boxes, placing them along
the edges. and decorating the front surface
only of the boxes. On certain festive occa-
sion tho flower boxes for mantel shelf, win
dow siIlS and low bookcases, running around
u
stalks and filed with crowded masses of large
field daisies. Whether in the glow of sunlight
or the glimmer OF gaslight, the result was SO
exquisite that it excited the admirins COM
meuts of every guest who saw it.
The simplest pine stick needed as a support
for a screen is at once made 10 assume an
appearance of greet elegance by grouping
around if several cornstalks in a cluster, and
securing them firmly to the central support
BY 4 ribbon or wire. This is a valuable sug
geStion for fancy fairs, where there arc
numerous devices needed for conceallng the
rough framework Of the tables.
1t need scarcely be said that at harvest fes-
tival~ nothing is more beautiful in the dis
play of autumn fruits and flowers than erect
cornStalks grouped in a mass, each bearing
its burden OF golden fiuitase. For a decora-
tive fringe on such occasions ears Of ripened
corn, with the husks turned back, may be
used with u charming SefIect.-Harpers Bazaar.
Pug Dogs vs.. Littlc Children.
There is. however. another variety OF this